On Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 8:09 PM, 5 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 2 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 1 EMS Battalion Captain and 1 Battalion Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 33 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel under the direction of Battalion Chief James Gaffney, responded to a Structure Fire with Civilian Burn Injury at 18571 Cantara Street in Reseda.

Firefighters responded quickly to find the attached garage of a one-story single family home well involved with fire, with flames threatening the adjoining home and attic.

As Firefighters extended handlines to do battle with the flames, their colleagues came to the immediate aid of a severely burned adult male standing on the front lawn.

According to the man, he had been performing motorcycle repair within his garage, when he was suddenly enveloped in flames. Running into the home, he was ushered to the front lawn by his wife, who helped to fully extinguish his burning skin and clothes.

As Paramedic-trained Firefighters provided prompt medical care, other Firefighters took to the roof to perform precise and timely vertical ventilation, limiting horizontal fire spread and allowing the flames to be fully controlled in less than 18 minutes.

The injured man was taken to nearby Northridge Hospital Medical Center in critical condition with 2nd degree burns to more than a third of his body.

Monetary loss from the fire is estimated at $325,000 ($250,000 structure & $75,000 contents). The cause of the blaze is listed as accidental, and attributed to gasoline fumes coming into contact with a water heater pilot light.


Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department